Recent data reveals a shifting landscape in Danish immigration, with a stronger emphasis on labor market integration and a changing composition of non-Western immigrants. While immigration from MENAPT countries (Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey) has more than doubled since 1995, this group now constitutes a smaller proportion of the overall non-Western immigrant population.

The proportion of residence permits granted for refugees or family reunification has decreased significantly, dropping from four out of five in 1997 to 31 percent in 2024. This indicates a growing trend of immigration driven by employment and study opportunities. According to SMVdanmark, this shift is largely due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion and the expansion of business and study programs attracting individuals from non-Western backgrounds.

Chief economist at SMVdanmark, Thomas Gress, emphasizes the crucial role of non-Western immigrants in sustaining economic growth and filling labor market needs. He highlights the overrepresentation of Nepalese immigrants in the cleaning industry and Indian immigrants in sectors like IT, manufacturing, trade, and healthcare. This labor-driven immigration is seen as having a stronger connection to the labor market compared to historical trends from MENAPT countries.

However, concerns remain regarding the cultural and societal impact of immigration, particularly from MENAPT countries. Mikkel Bjørn, a foreign affairs spokesman for the Danish People’s Party, expresses worry about the potential for parallel societies, ghetto formation, and honor-related violence, regardless of employment status. He argues that cultural differences pose a challenge, even with labor immigration.

Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek welcomes the decreasing proportion of immigrants from MENAPT countries within the non-Western immigrant population, citing past integration challenges. He points to the significant contribution of highly paid Indian immigrants to the Danish economy and highlights the presence of immigrants from the Balkans and Argentina, who often possess a better understanding of the rule of law. The minister views the increasing focus on labor immigration as a positive development, contrasting it with refugee-driven immigration.